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Australian Film Commission / ScreenSound Australian integrationReview of programsSubmission by the Australian Library and Information Association16 February 2004
To: The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on proposals for the future directions of ScreenSound Australia as set out in the Stage 2 directions paper of 12 December 2003. ALIA is the professional organisation for the Australian library and information services sector and represents 1,000 institutional and 5,500 individual members and the interests of 10.7 million library users. Our response focuses on the impact of the proposals on the collection and preservation of and access to Australia's film and sound heritage. ScreenSound currently has a highly experienced and skilled staff with extensive knowledge of the collection and the collecting, technical, cultural and industry environments in which ScreenSound operates. It is critical that the organisational structure and staffing of the archive reflects its role in collecting, preserving and providing access to a significant component of Australia's cultural heritage. We urge that careful consideration be given to the continuity of staffing. Any dramatic loss of staff could result in significant loss of organisational knowledge. ScreenSound has an extensive, valuable and unique collection. The core functions and roles of ScreenSound as a major collecting body and cultural organisation for Australia's film and sound heritage must continue. For these roles to be filled successfully, ScreenSound must work in collaboration and consultation with other national collecting organisations as well as with the film and sound industries to ensure that the critical needs for Australia's cultural heritage are met. This is especially important as new multimedia and digital formats are developing. ALIA believes that it is be increasingly important for collecting organisations to work together to ensure the long-term collection, preservation of and access to Australia's cultural, intellectual and social record and to ensure that the most important images and sound are kept and available. This need for collaboration and consultation with other major collecting bodies should be taken into account in the management of the archive and in the composition and terms of reference of any advisory bodies. We note that it is proposed to review the Preservation and Technical Services area once the Programs Review has been completed. ALIA urges that this and any other further reviews include close consultation with similar collecting bodies. Both I and ALIA's Executive Director, Jennefer Nicholson, would be happy to discuss or provide further information on any of the matters raised in this submission. Our contact details are below.
Christine Mackenzie
Australian Library and Information Association
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